Gear driven automatic retractable rope reel

ABSTRACT

An automatic adjustable tension reel carried on one&#39;s person having a housing assembled of steel, plastic, or other appropriate material and a bottom lid is disclosed.  
     An upper housing ( 24 ) and a bottom housing( 41 ) are provided in the device to form a reel gear driven axle to be placed therein a coil spring ( 21 ) and a roll of pulling rope ( 34 ). The end of the rope is exposed to the exterior of the housing to connect to a clip ( 35 ).

[0001] This application claims the benefit of a filing date Mar. 12, 2002 of the provisional patent No. 60/363,694 with confirmation number 5204.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates to rope reels, specifically to such reels which are used for retrieving hunting equipment from the ground when up in a high place.

[0005] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0006] The present invention is related to an improved reel device, especially to a reel device capable of adjustable tension in the coil spring and capable of handling large volumes of rope or different diameters of rope.

[0007] The reel involved in the present invention is especially suited for carrying on the waist of a person, and specifically used by hunters for retrieval of bow or gun on the ground from a position in a stand or tree. Such a reel is provided centrally and internally with a gear-driven coil spring, and a rope which will automatically let out as the hunter climbs the stand or tree and can be reeled back in by the internal gear-driven coil spring when the weight force is removed as the hunter manually pulls the bow or gun up by pulling the rope up.

[0008] With the adjustable tension capability the hunter is able to climb the stand or tree with the device attached to them or their stand while the rope is letting out allowing the bow or gun to remain on the ground. The adjustable tension will counter the force of gravity of different weight guns or bows.

[0009] The device can handle different diameter rope as well as different types of rope for different loads or situation capabilities.

[0010] The device has a removable rope guide which when used centrally aligns the rope with the take-up reel.

[0011] The device has four gear-driven coil spring assembly which allows the tension to remain constant, smooth, and silent throughout the release and take-up process.

SUMMARY

[0012] In accordance with the present invention a rope reel having a gear-driven, automatic retraction system, an adjustable tension and wide range capabilities for different size rope and rope amounts.

[0013] Objects and Advantages

[0014] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my reel are:

[0015] (a) to provide a device which will house a rope used to pull up or to lower guns, bows, or loads to or from a high place;

[0016] (b) to provide a reel which is quiet in operation;

[0017] (c) to provide a reel which is smooth in operation;

[0018] (d) to provide a reel that is durable;

[0019] (e) to provide a reel which keeps retrievable rope tangle-free;

[0020] (f) to provide a reel which allows only necessary rope length out of casing;

[0021] (g) to provide a reel which allows the most obstruction-free connection between the user and it's load;

[0022] (h) to provide a reel which is hands free after attached to load and user;

[0023] (i) to provide a reel that is simple and convenient to use;

[0024] (j) to provide a reel which automatically rewinds once weight of load is taken off rope end.

DRAWING FIGURES

[0025]FIG. 1 shows an imploded view of a reel.

[0026]FIG. 2 shows an underside of a bottom housing.

[0027]FIG. 3 shows an inside of a bottom housing.

[0028]FIG. 4 shows how three gears will interlock to work.

[0029]FIG. 5 shows how a spindle, and three gears will interlock.

[0030]FIG. 6A shows a cross section of a top of a bushing.

[0031]FIG. 6B shows how a spring will coil around a bushing and attach to a bushing.

[0032]FIG. 6C shows a longitudinal hole inside a bushing.

[0033]FIG. 7 shows an inside of a top housing.

[0034]FIG. 8A shows a side view of a reel where a rope attaches to it.

[0035]FIG. 8B shows a bottom of a reel where a gear is attached.

[0036]FIG. 9A shows an entire reel assembly.

[0037]FIG. 9B shows a rope guide.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0038]10 screw hole in housing

[0039]11 rope guide

[0040]12 slit in rope guide

[0041]13 threaded spacer

[0042]14 metal plate

[0043]15 center hole of metal plate

[0044]16 reel

[0045]17 screw hole of metal plate

[0046]18 gear on reel bottom

[0047]19 center hole of reel

[0048]20 slit in spring end

[0049]21 spiral spring

[0050]22 bushing

[0051]23 screws

[0052]24 top housing

[0053]25 longitudinal hole of bushing

[0054]26 lip of bushing

[0055]27 metal ring

[0056]28 screw hole in ring

[0057]29 clip attachment bracket

[0058]30 t-clip

[0059]31 side protrusion of bushing

[0060]32 lip of side protrusion bushing

[0061]33 rope guide hole

[0062]34 rope

[0063]35 rope clip

[0064]36 protrusion on rope guide

[0065]37 screw on reel

[0066]38 screw connector for rope to reel

[0067]39 center column of reel

[0068]40 clip bracket hole

[0069]41 bottom housing

[0070]42 spindle

[0071]43 spindle gear

[0072]44 gear on underside of top gear

[0073]45 top gear

[0074]46 regular bolt

[0075]47 hexagonal bolt

[0076]48 center hole of bottom housing

[0077]49 off center hole of bottom housing

[0078]50 center hole of top gear

DESCRIPTION

[0079]FIG. 1.—Preferred Embodiment

[0080] A preferred embodiment of a reel is illustrated in FIG. 1. This emploded view of a reel shows how each section of a reel as a whole is put together. A bottom housing 41 is fitted with a splindle 42, gears 43 44 45. A plate is fitted over a bottom housing 41. A reel 16 is placed on top of plate 14. Another metal plate 14 is placed on top of reel 16.

[0081] Separately, an upper housing 24 is fitted with a metal bushing 22, in the center, which is free floating connected to a coil spring 21 which is attached to the side of upper housing 24. Finally, upper housing 24 is placed on top of metal plate 14 and kept in place by placing metal ring 27 over upper housing 24. A metal ring 27, has the same seven holes as the other parts hearin described wherein screws 23 attach to a main body and spacers 13 are put in between the two metal plates 14. Seven more screws 23 are also placed in matching holes 10 of bottom housing 41.

[0082] A hole in a clip attachment bracket 29 is lined up with hole 10 in upper housing 24 and hole 10 in lower housing 41.

[0083] A rope guide hole 33 will line up with hole 10 across from hole for clip attachment bracket 29. A rope guide protrusion 36 will fit in between two plates 14.

[0084] A t-clip 30 is attached to clip attachment bracket 29. Another clip 35 is attached to one end of rope 34. The other end of rope 34 is attached to a center column of reel 39 with a screw 38.

[0085] FIGS. 2-7—Additional Embodiments

[0086] A flat recoil spring 21 attached to a metal bushing 22 with a lip on one end is placed in the center of top housing 24. A slit 20 at end of a metal spring 21 attaches to a bushing 22 by overlapping a slit 20 onto a metal protrusion on side of metal bushing 32. A spring 21 then begins to coil around metal bushing 32 such that top of spring 21 is flush with bottom side of upper lip 26 of metal bushing 22. The force of spring 21 trying to coil around bushing 22 causes a very tight fit.

[0087] A metal bushing 22 also has a longitudinal hole in the top of it 25 which continues to bottom of bushing 22. A longitudinal hole 25 is shaped to accomodate shape of a spindle 42.

[0088] A bushing spring connected device is free-floating in top housing 24 until a spindle 42 of gear driven shaft attached to bottom housing 41 is inserted into hole of bushing 25.

[0089] A spindle 42 is attached to a gear drive 43 on bottom housing 41. A gear drive composed of a spindle 42, a gear attached to a spindle 43, another gear on top of a spindle gear 45 and a smaller stationary gear 44 is attached to underside of top gear 45.

[0090] A spindle gear 43 is attached to bottom housing 41 by placing a bearing attached to it through a hole in the center of housing bottom 48 and is secured by a regular bolt 46.

[0091] A top gear 45 is attached by a bearing through an off center hole 49 in bottom of housing 41 and is secured by a hexagonal nut 49 on outside of bottom housing 41.

[0092]FIG. 8B—Additional Embodiments

[0093] A bottom of reel 16 has a permenant smaller gear 18 attached to it. A reel 16 has a center hole 19 which when placed over a spindle 42 slides down a spindle 42 to meet a flat metal plate 14. A gear attached to a bottom of a reel 18 will fit down inside a hole of a metal plate 14 and mesh with other three internal drive gears 43 44 45. A spindle 42 turns gears 43 44 45 which turn reel 16.

[0094] Additional embodiments are shown in FIG. 8A, 9A, and 9B. In FIG. 8A a cross section of side of a reel 16 is shown. A screw 38 is shown attaching rope 34 and center column of reel 39.

[0095]FIG. 9A shows the outside top view of reel device. FIG. 9B shows a side view of rope guide 11 with center hole 12 and protrusions 36 on one end at the sides. At the other end of rope guide 11 is a threaded spacer 13 that fits snuggly into a groove of rope guide 11.

[0096] Advantages

[0097] From the description above, a number of advantages of my reel become evident:

[0098] (a) The reel which can automatically retract rope in a convenient neat housing when not needed; will keep users from having to untangle rope in awkward situations.

[0099] (b) The reel will allow user to pull rope and load towards them without concern of rope tangling or piling up since rope will be retracting into housing neatly.

[0100] (c) The reel will prevent excess rope around user which may cause complications.

[0101] (d) The reel has clips which makes use easy. The equipment clip at the end of the rope attaches to the load. The clip on the reel housing allows user to attach reel to themselves or a piece of equipment such as a tree stand.

[0102] (e) The housing of the reel will be made of strong material for durability and the rope specifications can vary with intented use of the reel.

[0103] (f) The adjustable tension allows for various load weights and situations.

[0104] (g) The gears provide a smooth and quiet operation of reel.

[0105] Operation—FIGS. 1-9

[0106] The free end of rope 34 has a clip 35 attached to it. One secures equipment with clip 35. One secures t-clip 30 to their belt or tree stand. As one climbs tree or pole, equipment attached by clip 35 at the end of rope 34 stays on the ground. A reel 16 begins to unwind letting out rope 34 enabling climber to climb with reel device clip 30 attached to them and rope 34 attached to equipment.

[0107] Once climber reaches destination, and is safely situated, the climber begins to pull rope 34 up that has equipment attached to it. As one pulls rope 34 the released spring 21 forces spindle 42 to turn which has gear attached to it 43. This causes other interlocking gears in bottom housing 44 45 to turn which causes gear attached to bottom of reel 18 to turn. The excess rope 34 already pulled up by person is automatically wound back into reel 16 as reel 16 turns. Because rope is threaded through a hole in rope guide 12, rope 34 will be neatly wound around reel 16.

[0108] By loosening screws on upper housing 24, and then turning top housing 24 clockwise, one can adjust to tighten spring 21. By turning top housing 24 counterclockwise, one can loosen the tension of spring 21. This feature enables user to adjust tension so that during climb, equipment of varying weight will stay on the ground until time for retrieval.

[0109] Conclusion,Ramifications, and Scope

[0110] Accordingly, the reader will see that the gear driven automatic retractable rope reel-can be used in many different situations. It is easy to use and convenient. The reel allows the climber to climb without having to worry about the position of the rope attached to them and their equipment. The adjustable tension ability enables the reel to be used with many different weight loads. The no-hands operation of winding the let out rope back into the reel housing with little noise is convenient. Furthermore, the reel has the additional advantages in that

[0111] it permits the climber to have a neatly wound and ready available rope for use;

[0112] it prevents the user from becoming tangled dangerously in the rope as they pull up equipment from ground;

[0113] it is very easy to use because the equipment clip and the belt clip attach in one motion

[0114] it is made of a durable material that will last a long time and will survive rough handling.

[0115] Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the reel can be made of many types of materials and the size of the reel can vary; the rope can be different types and sizes and be made of different materials, etc;

[0116] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

I claim:
 1. In the reel of the type comprising of an upper housing and a lower housing joined by a gear driven axle attached therein a coil spring with said rope attachment to main spindle. 